Wed. July 24, 2024: Steady, If Somewhat Slower
image courtesy of StartupStockPhotos via pixabay.comWednesday, July 24, 2024
Waning Moon
Pluto, Saturn, Neptune Retrograde
Hazy, cloudy, warm, humid
How are you doing? We’re in the middle of the week.
Yesterday was a kind of rainy, mucky, humid day. I really didn’t feel like doing much of anything, but too bad for me.
Today is July 24 of 2024. 24/24!
If you just did the 24/24 numerology, you’d have 12, which then becomes 3 (1 +2), the triskele, change and magic. But we’ve got that extra 2 for 2024, which makes it 8, plus the 7 for July, which makes it 15. Which turns it into a 6, which links families and friends and communities together.
Got an early start. Proofread the next 5 chapters of TAPESTRY, fixed a few things (last chance before we go to galleys). Dealt with several hundred emails. Worked on the program for the BHPC residency later this year. Worked on the material for my mentor meeting next week. Updated my submission log. One of my stage plays was turned down from a call, but they’re interested in audio, so I’m trying to figure out if I should submit something. I think I will pass, since they don’t pay but keep up the file forever, and my audio plays are usually licensed for a fee to specific markets.
Nearly forgot to get the crockpot dinner going.
Had a webinar from the Author’s Guild on Platform Building for Indie Authors, with Matty Dalrymple, Michael LaRonn, and Jane Friedman, which was really good. I do a lot of their suggested tips already, but there were a few things I could fold into the next newsletter.
I also really like their position that, while traditional books now have to hit big in the first 3 months and often disappear, books in general (and especially indie books) have a long life. A lot of the conversation tied into the work in the A4A workshops, and it was nice to get that alignment. They all agreed that the most important factor in a writing career is to keep writing. There’s no body of work, and therefore no career, if one doesn’t keep writing. Matty suggested reading all those “250 things to market your book” lists as a menu, picking your favorite options, not trying to do it all. Michael said part of experimenting with different types of marketing is finding what best fits your personality, and letting the others go, no matter what the “experts” say.
I’m looking forward to next week’s webinar, which is about advertising. I sent them all thank you emails, to which they all responded in just a few minutes (I didn’t expect a response. I thanked them because I’m thankful for their time and expertise).
Charlotte was unhappy because it was a webinar, not a typical Zoom call, and no one could see her to tell her she was pretty.
I went and implemented some of what I learned (and actually did some work on the September newsletter).
Was not in the mood for script coverage, so pushed that off until today. Instead, I read the next book for review, which was very good. I’m also shifting around to different locations for different work tasks, so I’m not always sitting at the desk. Also, it’s retrograde season, which is about slowing down. Fighting it wastes energy, so I’m looking for ways to use the slower energies, but still get done what needs to get done, and cut as much stress as possible. I can always find something to stress about. But what if I decide not to? Worth a shot.
Picked up the CSA box. Yummy! Squash and carrots and garlic and cucumbers and cherry tomatoes! We are going to have one heck of a primavera tonight.
I skipped yoga, out of caution. Other than being tired, I feel okay. And I might just be tired because I had a lot on the hoof these last weeks, and the adrenalin crash from the cohort program. I mean, I sort of feel like I could tip over into being sick, like I usually am when I get back from a trip, but I’m resting enough not to really do that (I hope).
We think New Girl’s name will be Beatrice (from ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL), Bea for short. Bea from Beacon. She seems to like that name the best, although she still doesn’t have much use for humans. She still hides when we are in the room, even when we’re just hanging out so she can get used to us. She’s taking more time out and about around her meals, though, exploring the sewing room, and she even played with her banana with us watching through the glass. She’s grown in the few days since she’s been here. She will be a long, lean cat with long legs.
However, after dinner, when she called to the other cats, they came to the glass door, but were hissing and growling at her. They didn’t do the last few days, so I don’t know what that was all about. It didn’t phase her at all. She kept patiently explaining her side of the story. It’s all part of the adjustment process. Time and patience.
If I didn’t think Charlotte would rip the house down to the studs, I’d go in there and sleep at least one night in that room with her.
Bea likes to sleep most of the day, and roam at night. She would prefer not to be confined to the sewing room at night, but, for the moment, she must. We’ll get there. It took a couple of years to get Charlotte and Willa settled in, and they were used to humans.
Tessa, however, has reclaimed my bed during the days, since she’s on night shift.
Weird dreams last night, but up early and out the door to the laundromat. I was back before my mom was even awake. About half of what went through the wash couldn’t go into the dryer (the joy of certain cottons), so that’s hanging up all over the place. Not sure how long it will take to dry in the humidity, but it’s better than shrinking.
I didn’t get much done on the edits for “A Stylish Death” at the laundromat. I thought I had to rewrite a section for logic, rewrote it, then realized the first way was both better and correct because I’d researched it with the appropriate professionals while writing the first draft. So I had to go back and change it all back to what it was. I worked in the car; it was cooler, and that way I could isolate from anyone else that came in to use the laundromat, and mask when I went inside to load or unload the machines. There’s not much left in those edits; I might push through this morning, and then all of MURDER BELLS has edits that need to go into the document, as soon as I get this proof of TAPESTRY out the door. There’s some logic I need to smooth out in the climactic sequence about furniture placement (it’s relevant to the way Nina confronts the murderer). There’s a glitch in that logic, and I may need to sketch out the room so I can see how to move around the players.
I hope to do more proofreading on TAPESTRY, write the book review and submit it, do three small coverages, get at least one proposal out the door. I have three that need to reach their targets before the end of the month. I lost the thread of the flash fiction I’d hoped to get done before I left, and I have to figure it out again. That needs to get out the door this week.
I’m not going to tarot this afternoon (again, being cautious). I’m testing negative, but I don’t want to put anyone at risk. Too much at stake this weekend for any of us to get sick.
Have a good one!
